Document Disclosure and Return Policy

We usually advise against keeping certified copies of your Will stored separately from the original. If we are holding your original Will safely in our storage, we are more than happy to send you a photocopy for your own records instead.

It is incredibly important that you do not sign the draft copy we provide you when you instruct us. Having more than one signed Will can cause a lot of legal confusion for your family later on, so you only ever want one legally valid version in existence at any given time.

If you would like a copy of your documents, our fees are:

• Plain photocopy: £18 including VAT per document

• Certified copy: £24 including VAT per document

If you decide you do specifically need a certified copy for a genuine reason, please send us a hand-signed request along with your photo ID. This strict check ensures we only ever create legal, usable copies for the authorised people, keeping your private wishes completely secure.

Unless we prepared them for you several years ago, we do not usually store original Lasting Power of Attorney documents.

Unlike a Will, an LPA is designed to be used during your lifetime. Because of this, it is generally much better for you to keep the original safe at home so you or your Attorneys can access it quickly when needed.

If an LPA is ever lost, you can obtain a legally valid replacement from the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). To request replacement office copies if the originals have been misplaced, please call the OPG on 0300 456 0300.

However, if we are holding your Power of Attorney in our secure storage, you can request it at any time. We will need to see your photo ID and a hand-signed, written request. This strict check ensures that we are releasing your powerful legal documents only to you. If you are a couple requesting both of your documents, you will both need to provide your IDs and signed requests.

We provide secure, professional storage at no cost to protect our clients. While you are absolutely entitled to request your documents back at any time, we highly recommend leaving them in our care.

If an original Will is kept at home and cannot be found when the time comes, the law defaults to the assumption that you destroyed it with the intention of cancelling it.

Over the years, we’ve seen countless clients rely on vague “safe places” that can change over time with house moves and are equally vulnerable to accidental or intentional destruction by a hostile third party, only for the documents to be stored away and forgotten. These are all risks that could mean any potential protection you put in your Will could be lost.

Storing your documents with us prevents this legal limbo and ensures your wishes are safely preserved and easily accessible to your executors.

If you understand these risks and would still like to retrieve your original Will, we need a few things from you to process the request securely.

Please provide a brief, signed, written request asking to withdraw your Will from our storage. We also require a clear copy of your photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, to verify your identity.

We are very sorry for your loss. To release an original Will to you, we first need to see the death certificate. Because there is only one original Will, we also need a photo ID and a hand-signed, written request from all of the Executors named in the document. This protects the estate and ensures everyone appointed is aware and in agreement. All Executors must also agree on the single address where we should post the Will. If you just need a certified copy, the fee is £24 including VAT, but we still need ID and signed consent from every Executor to keep everything completely secure.

First, it is important to understand that being an Attorney does not give you an automatic right to see a person’s Will. It is always treated as a request and is subject to extensive third-party and internal compliance to ensure everything is handled legally and safely.

Requesting a copy of another person’s Will before they have passed away is a very complex process. As outlined by the Law Society, we must follow strict rules to protect the best interests of all parties, namely the client (often referred to as the Testator) and prevent misuse.

We will need to see the fully registered Property and Finance Power of Attorney that lists the Testator as the ‘donor’ and officially names you as an appointed Attorney.

We will also need your photo ID, a hand-signed written request, and a letter or assessment from a GP or medical professional. This medical letter must clearly confirm that the client has lost capacity. Please note that these requests are still subject to review on an individual basis; however, the guidance above covers most scenarios.

Finally, if the document says you are appointed to act Jointly rather than Jointly and Severally with other Attorneys, we will need photo ID and signed consent from every single one of you. This makes absolutely sure that everyone who is legally responsible is in full agreement before we release any highly sensitive information.

Please do not worry at all. Legal documents can feel overwhelming. If you are ever unsure about what you need to provide, just drop our friendly Support Team an email at support@aprilking.co.uk or give us a call on 0800 788 0500. We are always happy to point you in the right direction.

We ask for a physical signature on your actual request letter to help keep your information safe from online fraud. Imagine if someone got into your email account and tried to ask for your Will without you knowing. Asking for a hand-signed document is our way of making absolutely sure the request is genuinely from you. Once you have signed it, you are more than welcome to take a clear photo of the page and email it over to us!

The most common forms of ID we accept are a valid passport or a driving licence. We need this visual proof to verify your identity before we disclose or return any sensitive legal documents, which directly protects you from identity theft. If you no longer drive and do not have a passport, please do not worry. Just give our Support Team a call on 0800 788 0500, and we will happily talk you through other ways to securely verify your identity.

You can email clear scans or photographs in JPEG, PNG, or PDF formats to support@aprilking.co.uk. Please make sure the images are in focus and have good lighting so we can read all the details. Important note: please do not post your original ID documents to us.

We have never charged for document storage on its own, so we understand why you might question this fee. Due to strict compliance rules, returning sensitive documents is no longer just popping a letter in the post. We must get it right the first time to keep your information safe.

Our team spends nearly an hour on every request performing vital security checks:

• Verifying your photo ID and physical signatures to prevent fraud

• Physically retrieving your specific file from secure storage

• Making necessary file copies, which is best practice to protect your estate against future claims

• Preparing and issuing the invoice and arranging the secure, tracked, completed request.

As a business, we need to consider the time required for detailed work. With Royal Mail prices consistently rising, this small fee covers only a small portion of our administrative time and postage costs. If you are experiencing genuine financial hardship, please reach out to our Support Team so we can review your situation with understanding.

Yes, we offer an optional Special Delivery service for returning your documents within the UK.

We highly recommend using this option for original legal documents such as Wills or property deeds, as it provides greater security and peace of mind.

From 1 April 2026, the fee for this upgraded postage is £17 (inc. VAT). This is an extra cost in addition to any other charges for the specific documents you are requesting. Choosing this service means your items are delivered faster, insured, and fully tracked. They usually arrive the next working day after posting.

Please make sure you request and pay for this additional service before we dispatch your documents. Once your request has been processed and your documents are ready to go, we cannot change the delivery method.

Finally, please keep in mind that this upgraded service applies only to the delivery speed. To keep things fair for everyone, paying for Special Delivery does not push your request to the front of the queue. We will still process all requests in the order we receive them.

We aim to send your documents within 15 working days of the approval of the correct supporting documents, as laid out in this policy, including payment of any applicable administration fees. We know waiting for important paperwork can be frustrating, but we are legally required to complete strict checks before we can approve a request. Rushing this process could have disastrous legal consequences for loved ones. We appreciate your patience while we keep your data secure.

Email is the quickest way, but you can post your written request and photocopies of your ID to our central document team. To supply supporting documents by email, please email support@aprilking.co.uk. We highly recommend using Recorded Delivery so your request does not get lost in transit. Post to:

FAO: Document Returns
April King Legal
4 Castlebridge Office Village
Kirtley Drive
Nottingham
NG7 1LD